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Question: How can a Floodstop water heater automatic water system save me from a flooded basement?

Q: "I don't understand the value of installing a Floodstop single appliance water shut off system on my water heater. Isn't the water heater going to leak out all 40 or 50 gallons of water anyway? Thanks. Tom."

Answer: We discussed this with our Floodstop distributor, did some on-line research and remembered our own failed water heaters over the years. As our distributor explained, water heater water loss is typically from a pin-hole leak caused by corrosion to the inside lining of the tank. With Floodstop, you can choose to daisy-chain several sensors together to extend under the tank (if raised) or on the side where the sewer drain lies. Once a FloodStop sensor detects a leak, the Floodstop valve is immediately closed. Typically this pin-hole does not get larger because the Floodstop valve closure creates a kind of vacuum within the tank so no more water escapes. This is like putting your finger over the top end of a straw with water in it. That is why it is not necessary to have a device that shuts off the gas or the electricity to the water heater.

You, the home or apartment dweller, will know you have an issue to deal with when you get home hours, days or weeks later. You'll either hear the alarm or you'll go to the sink and there is no water immediately. Once you break the vacuum, the pin hole leak will again begin to drip. By then, the owner will shut off the water and the vacuum will resume. Then you'll be shopping for a new water heater.

Among plumbers and owners of high rise condo complexes,, the Floodstop is considered to be the best choice to prevent water disasters. Unfortunately, sometimes almost brand new water heaters begin to drip. Ex. My late Mom's installed 6 years prior to her death, lasted one year before it began to leak. Luckily it was in a visible basement area and was caught before any significant damage occurred.

Floodstop Automatic Water Systems for Water Heaters Come in These Sizes:

Q: "I live in California. I want to install a WaterCop to protect my condominum from future water damage. Our condo association was not happy, nor was I, when repairs from a leaking dishwasher caused over $20,000 in repair costs from a leaking water dispensing refrigerator leak. I am encouraging the entire condo association to install WaterCops and moisture sensors to add protection and keep our insurance premiums down. Does this unit meet the specifications for California lead? Thanks. Tom.

Answer: Dynaquip controls has added what are called "lead free" or "low lead" brass full port water valves as an option to their Water Cop line. These valves comply with the California AB1953 Standard as well as the Vermont S.152 Ultra Low Lead Law. The cost of these units is more because making brass with little or no lead adds considerable expense to manufacturing.

To protect your condominium community, please advise your condo board that WaterCop units and sensors should be ordered pre-set from the factory. We've handled orders like this in the past. What we need to know is the number of units and the number of sensors and adapters (most prefer AC rather than battery powered sensors). By numbering the units say 1 through 50, your condo community can be assured that if there is a leak in say Unit 101, that the unit next door will continue to have water because the actuator and sensor settings will be different!

If your community plans to expand, the best approach is to have the WaterCop ready lead free valves installed during the initial construction. Then the actuators and water sensors can be added later just prior to occupancy. Why pay twice for a water valve!.

Currently, these units are available in 1/2 inch valve, 3/4 inch valve , 1 inch valve and 1 1/4 inch valve sizes. The 1 1/4 inch actuators and valves are more expensive: the power requires to quickly open and close the valve is higher for the larger valves. Remember you can reduce the size of a water line to fit a smaller valve. The most popular sizes are the 3/4 inch and the 1 inch.

Thanks for your question. Please contact us for a quotation when your condo association is ready to install the WaterCops. One condo association reported to us that they were close to being uninsurable until they installed the WaterCops. Then the yearly premiums dropped 15%.